She opened her mouth to speak, but he silenced her with a sweet, gentle kiss. “Sssh, love, I’m waxing poetic.” His smile turned deliciously wicked and his hand moved even lower to tangle his fingers in the moist curls at the apex of her thighs. “And this wee bit of fire here,” he chuckled low, “guarding the gates of heaven, to be sure.”
“Um…” Beth began then in a rush blurted, “Now would probably be a good time to tell you that I’ve never done this before and I’m really, really nervous and I hope that it will be okay, because I’ve read a lot of books and things so I know how it’s supposed to wor–”
He placed a gentle finger on her lips to quiet the manic rush of words. “Haven’t done what before, sweet?”
She blushed crimson. “You know.”
He shook his head. “No, I really don’t,” he said, running his hand over her breasts and gently rolling her nipple between his fingers. “Supposing you tell me.” He lowered his head and flicked his tongue over the pink bud, lightly brushing it with the edge of his teeth.
Beth moaned softly at the amazing feeling. “I’ve never had sex before,” she whispered.
He stopped abruptly and drew back to look at her, his ruddy eyebrows disappearing into his hairline. “You’re joking. You’re a virgin?”
Well, it was fun while it lasted. She sighed. “No, I’m not joking. But I really do know how it’s supposed–”
He put a finger over her lips again. “Sweetheart–are you sure?”
She glared down and batted his hand away. “Quite,” she snapped. She looked away, feeling her face heat with embarrassment.
“Never had sex before. Awww…now that’s truly a shame,” he said lightly, “but you won’t be having it here tonight either.”
She froze and jerked her head to look at him. “I’m sorry, what?”
Humming tunelessly, James walked his fingers down her stomach to tease the triangle of dark red curls. “Well…truth be told, I confess that I have had sex before.” She gasped in mock disbelief and he gave her a warning glance. “No seriously, it’s true.” Parting her folds gently, he stroked her with one long finger. “I have no intention of having sex with you. What you and I will be doing is making love, and from what I understand there’s a big difference. I’m after more than your body tonight, darlin’. I want all of you and nothing less.”
She wiggled her hips experimentally against his hand and he smiled. “Now sex I know about, but making love is new for me…so I guess we’re both virgins. I want us to learn together. I want to know what pleases you, and I’m hoping you’ll want to know what pleases me,” He slipped one finger inside her, then two. She whimpered, feeling herself tighten around him.
He groaned and rose up over her. “This is your last chance to tell me no, my darlin’,” he said, “I am fast approaching the point of no return here.” He lowered his head to hers and lightly brushed his lips over her temple. “I love you, Lisbeth. Tell me you want me just as badly as I want you, darlin’, because right now I need to be inside you more than I need to draw my next breath.”
“I do want you,” she whispered, “Please, Seamus.”
He took a deep, ragged breath and parted her thighs with his, positioning himself against the entrance to her body. He sighed and cleared his throat, his voice rife with conflicting tones of regret and excitement. “Sweetness, I wish it weren’t so, but I’m told the first time might hurt a wee bit. I’ll be as gentle as I can, I promise you.”
“I know you will.” She nodded. She raised her arms to welcome him, sliding her hands slowly around his back to pull him to her.
He gave her a smile and begged entrance with painstaking slowness until he reached the expected barrier. “Do you feel it?” he asked. When she nodded again, he said, “On three, then. One…” and he pushed through the thin membrane, burying himself to the hilt within her.
She cried out from the sharp, burning pain and clutched him tightly. They lay motionless for a long moment before she turned her head to look him square in the eye. “You can’t count for shit, Seamus,” she said, trying to maintain a fierce scowl and failing miserably.
His laughter rumbled deep in his chest, sending delicious vibrations against her sensitized nipples. “I had to, darlin’. You were starting to go all tense on me. Are you hurting now? Do we need to stop?”
* * * *
In answer, she instinctively arched her back beneath him to urge him into motion and he laughed with delight. “I was terrified you were going to say stop. I would have, you know, but it would likely have killed me on the spot…” He groaned aloud in deepest pleasure. “Ah, mo stor - you’re so tight, you’re…incredible. I knew you would be.” A primal possessiveness flooded his senses as he began to move gently within her. Knowing he was the man she had chosen to introduce her to the pleasures of being a woman nearly drove him over the precarious edge. Knowing how many must have tried unsuccessfully to be where he currently was. Knowing…the thought slammed into him, making his breath catch hard in his throat.
First.
Last.
Only.
Mine, his heart purred.
Beth smiled with sudden womanly knowledge and ground her hips against his, drawing another deep moan from him. “Two can play at that, sweet,” he growled, and pulled nearly out of her only to plunge back in, making her cry out. He settled into a rhythm of long, sweet strokes that tested the very limits of his control. Breathing wordless sounds of love mingled with desire into her ear, his skin tingled from her nails lightly raking down his back.
“Wrap your legs around me, darlin’,” he begged and when she did, the sweetness turned into deliberately possessive thrusts. She cried out against his throat, covering it with kisses and little nips at his shoulders and the thick cords of his neck. He pulled back to look into her eyes and knew that he was looking past her face and directly into her soul. The world receded around him until he could see nothing but the beautiful woman gazing up at him with such love in her eyes. He pressed a kiss to her open mouth and whispered fiercely, “No matter what happens after tonight, Lisbeth, part of you will always be mine. Mine, darlin’. Say it.”
“Yours,” she half gasped, half sobbed, “yours.”
In answer he deepened his thrusts and supporting himself with one arm crushed her tightly to his chest with the other. Hearts pounding convulsively, the entire bed shook with the intensity of their bodies moving together in exquisite harmony. Her moans took on a keening note, rising and falling with each long stroke. “Seamus, this…it’s so…oh, I can’t breathe,” she cried.
“Sssh, now…I love you, mo chroi.” He smiled and kissed her with surprising gentleness on her cheek. That unexpected bit of tenderness proved to be her undoing. He covered her mouth with his, greedily drinking in her exultant cries of pleasure as the orgasm rolled on and on without ending.
She clung to him limply as he continued to drive into her, his muscles sliding heavy under her hands. When his entire body began to shudder and tense, she grabbed two fistfuls of hair and pulled his head down to whisper against his lips, “Yours, Seamus.”
Those two words robbed him of his last shreds of self-control, and his voice broke when he cried out her name. His ragged shout of release was raw and elemental as he exploded within her, over and over and over until he collapsed, his entire body trembling from unconditional physical and emotion surrender. He shifted so that his full weight wasn’t resting on her, burying his face in her soft hair. They lay there for several long minutes, panting and savoring the aftershocks that make every nerve tingle.
He finally rallied the strength to move and rolled over onto his back. “That was amazing, my love,” he gasped. “You are amazing.” He stroked her cheek and murmured “I love you, Lisbeth.” With a satisfied smile he resolved to tell her that again…just as soon as she woke up.
* * * *
Beth awoke several hours later, lying atop him with one leg nestled between his muscular thighs. Snuggled down under the vol
uminous covers, they lay enfolded in each other’s arms. She listened. His breathing was deep and rhythmic, his heartbeat quietly thudding under her breast. Thinking not to disturb him, she shifted and eased over to her side of the bed. When he spoke, his soft voice rich with contentment startled her. “How’re you feeling?” His arms tightened and pulled her back to her original position. “You’re fine right where you were, darlin’.”
“Mmm…wonderful. I didn’t know you were awake,” she murmured.
He gave her an affectionate squeeze and cleared his throat, bracing himself. “Was it…ah…bad, sweetheart? I mean, very painful? I didn’t want to hurt–”
She put a finger to his lips and grinned. “Hush. It kinda burned for just a second then it was gone. I was expecting a lot worse, especially after seeing…” She rolled her eyes toward his lower body, “…your, uh…that….I don’t know, it just seems really…big…” Her voice trailed off. “…I, um…what were we talking about?”
He chuckled and traced the back of his knuckles on her cheek. “You gave me a beautiful gift tonight and I thank you,” he whispered.
She smiled at him and placed a hand over his heart. “No, thank you.”
He covered her hand with his own and patted it. “You already thanked me, darlin’. There’s no higher praise a woman can give her man than letting him love her to sleep,” he whispered, easing from underneath her. “Turn onto your side now, love.” He moved to lie with his chest pressed against her back, folding his big warm body around hers. His arm came around to hold her close to his heart and she relaxed against him, sighing with utter contentment. “Just like spoons in the drawer, darlin’,” he murmured. “Jaysus, but you fit me good.”
She giggled and snuggled in closer. They lay a long time in companionable silence before James spoke again. “What would you like to do tomorrow?” he asked. “Meg’s expecting us for lunch, though, and she’ll throttle me if we’re not there.”
“I think,” Beth said after a moment of deliberation, “I’d like to walk on the beach, then come back up to the room and do this some more, ‘cause I liked it a lot.”
He nuzzled her neck, chuckling softly. “That’s my girl.”
* * * *
“Christ, Megs, sheathe your hormones and quit yelling already. I left him a voicemail telling him to be here at noon. It’s only ten after.” Ian lay sprawled on the couch in Meg and Dan’s huge apartment with his head in Lily’s lap, nursing a slight hangover and sighing happily while she played with his hair.
Meg shot Ian a dirty look. “I’m not yelling. Would you like to have a bit of that for comparison?”
Lily jumped in before Ian could rebut his sister’s volume level, which did seem a little on the loud side. “I called Beth too, got her voice mail. I’m sure they’ll be here any…”
The doorbell rang, and Dan hopped up to answer it before she could finish her thought. James breezed in dragging Beth by the hand. “Sorry we’re late. There was an accident on that long bridge and we needed to stop by Beth’s apartment for a minute to get her car and a couple of things.”
“No worries at all, we’re glad you’re both here,” Lily said. Gently pushing a protesting Ian up from her lap, she stood and said to Beth, “Come give us a hand with lunch.” Without a backward glance, the three ladies headed through the dining room toward the kitchen.
****
James trotted along behind them, sniffing the air appreciatively. “It’s smelling rather Irish, Meggie m’dear. Jaysus, how much cabbage you got cookin’ in there?”
Meg whirled around and barred entrance to the kitchen after the other two women disappeared into its mysterious depths. “Run along, you. Go keep the married men company.” He sputtered and tried to peer around the corner, but Meg held firm. “I mean it. Off with you now; she’ll be just fine with us,” she beamed. “Shoo, boyo.”
Ian and Dan both snickered much to James’s disconcertion as he stomped back, waving his arms in agitation. “What the hell are they doing in there that I can’t see?” he demanded.
Dan shrugged and said, “No help for it now, you know how they are. You’ve been relegated to the Men’s Club. Let’s have a game of darts while they finish getting lunch ready.” The three men headed for the electric dartboard set up near the bar at the end of the great room.
“Ian–”
James was interrupted by Meg sticking her head out of the kitchen door. “If the two of you start in on each other and break anything, you’re paying for it,” she called.
“Rest yourself, Meggie m’ darlin’,” Ian reassured her. “I’m fair certain Seamus won’t be starting anything.”
“Me? What about you?” James snapped in outrage. Exasperated beyond measure, Meg shook her head and vanished back in the kitchen. Both brothers watched her go then grinned at each other. “She always thinks the worst of us, doesn’t she?” James chuckled. He had just opened his mouth to begin his sentence again when Dan spoke up.
“It’s not like she doesn’t have just cause,” Dan threw in as he pulled out the wooden dart box and set it on the coffee table. “Oh, nearly forgot, Ian. Sully got a tee time for seven tomorrow. He’s been whinging something awful that he hasn’t seen you since you’ve been back.”
Ian looked horrified. “You can’t seriously expect me to drag my ass onto a golf course at that time of day. Christ, the birds aren’t even up.” Acquiescing, he lifted one shoulder in a casual shrug. “I suppose so. The two of you haven’t had the chance to beat up on me for a whole month now.” Family friend, golfing buddy and recreational pilot, John O’Sullivan also owned the local liquor distribution center which endeared him to both men. He gave James a nudge with his elbow. “Reckon you’re going to need to learn to play, Seamus, being as you’re getting ready to settle down and all.”
Ignoring the broad matrimonial hint, James grinned. “I already do. Next time I’m here I’ll prove it. Matter of fact, I’ve got a tenner that says I’ll beat you both by at least five strokes.”
Dan laughed at his boast as Ian turned and raised an eyebrow at James. “You’re on. Now, you were going to say something else?”
James nodded and said softly, “I had a dream.” With those few words, he knew he had his brother’s complete and undivided attention.
“What kind of dream?” he asked carefully.
“I don’t remember much about it,” James said with a dismissive wave, “but I need to give you this.” He pulled out a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Ian.
Ian unfolded the note and skimmed the contents. “Kevin Bellamy? Who… wait, this is…” He frowned. “Why are you giving me Spider’s number?” Ian demanded. His worried eyes held a different question. What aren’t you telling me?
James answered both questions at once. “I don’t really know,” he admitted, “but in case you need to reach me and I’m not answering, you call Spider. He’ll get you to me straightaway.”
“The two of you are making my hair stand up again,” Dan shuddered dramatically. He picked up the darts and thrust them at James. “Beth, huh? I’d like to say I’m surprised, but I’m really not. She’s a lovely girl.”
James’s face softened into a contented smile. “She is that.”
* * * *
In the kitchen, the ladies bustled around putting the finishing touches on lunch. Meg sliced the freshly baked bread while Lily pulled the large beef roast out of the oven. Giving it a moment to rest before carving, she scooped the accompanying vegetables onto a platter. Once that was complete, she swiped her forehead with the back of her hand and gave Beth a Cheshire cat grin. “Sooo…how was your evening?”
Beth paused in selecting the serving spoons and felt the heat rushing towards her cheeks. “I…well…” She caught her reflection in the mirror and fanned herself. “Embarrassed is sooo not my color.”
Meg burst into laughter and tapped Lily on the shoulder. “You see that expression on her face? She looks just like you do whenever that grand fella in
the other room bats his eyes at you.” She continued to laugh as the shade of Lily’s blush deepened but the laughter was cut short by a resounding crash from the great room. She muttered a dark curse under her breath and waited for a second, then two. The all male chorus was immediate. “Accident, Meg. Nothing broken.”
“Bulls in a china shop, all three of ‘em,” she snorted. Picking up the basket of steaming bread slices she headed for the dining room, Lily and Beth close behind her carrying the full dishes.
James appeared at Beth’s elbow and took the steaming roast from her. “Let me help you with that, darlin’.” She turned a smile up to him and he brushed his lips softly on the cheek. “Beautiful girl, how on earth did I come to be so lucky?”
Beth batted her eyes coquettishly. “Maybe you were just overdue.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Maybe I was, darlin’.” Setting the dish down on the table, he grabbed Beth around the waist, pulling her to him and buried his face in her hair to give her neck a playful nuzzle. When the masculine presence behind them cleared his throat loudly, James snuck a quick kiss on her ear before releasing her. “Some poor folk just got no sense of romance,” he threw back over his shoulder.
Ian rolled his eyes skyward. “No, I wouldn’t know anything at all about romance, you feckin’ muppet,” he replied dryly. “Now either help us set the table or move out the way and let the grownups do it.”
“Who’re you callin’–” James began, but Meg stepped into between them wearing a fierce scowl of disapproval.
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